A Study of the Lipids of Certain Enteric Bacilli

Abstract

An analysis of the lipids of 9 strains of enteric bacilli has been made. The total lipid content of the organisms varied from 4.3 to 7.9% of the dry weight. No cholesterol or other sterols were found. The total fatty acid content varied from 2.5 to 4.6% of the dried bacteria. The iodine numbers were low (42 to 82). Phospholipids constituted the major portion of the total lipids. With one exception they represented about 60% of the total lipid. The fatty acid in the phospholipid molecule ranged from 63 to 73%. As indicated by their iodine numbers, the fatty acids were not all alike. The content of P and N of the phospholipid was normal, with the exception of a single strain which showed evidence of a phosphatidic acid in place of a phospholipid.